The Meikai War

Chapter9

The three Reikai detectives shivered as they walked through the snow. They’d lost their supplies when the column of fire had scorched the land.

"Gggrrrrrrrrrr."

Yusuke and Kurama turned around to look at Kuwabara.

"Could you tell your stomach to shut up!" snapped Yusuke.

"I’m sorry. I haven’t had any thing to eat all day long and walking takes a lot out of me," said Kuwabara.

"We have to hurry and get out of the pole before we freeze to death. Forget your stupid stomach," said Yusuke.

Kuwabara growled. "Well I would if I could!" he snapped.

Kurama sighed as the two started bickering. His thoughts ran to the visions he’d been having. Three times now he’d fainted and been nothing but a burden to his teammates. Kuwabara had to carry him and Yusuke had to save him back at the cavern. Why was he having these flashbacks? Were they even flashbacks? Won’t he have to live through those events for them to be flashback? He was confused, why was he seeing the past. None of the information so far had been of much help to him, except the part about Aresism having the Ghostslayer sword. What about the other two treasures? Where did they come in? Kurama thought about Aresism’s fight with Suoh, then he thought about after that when the god tried to force himself on the ryu, then after that when Inari had-

"Kurama? What’s wrong? You can’t be hot out here so why is your face so red?" asked Yusuke.

Kurama laughed nervously. "Maybe I got sun burnt. You know it’s easy to get burnt when the sun reflexes back on the snow and I do have a pretty fare complexion." More stupid laughter.

"Um... okay," said Yusuke.

The fox turned around and almost ran into a tall figure that appeared out of nowhere before him. Kurama jumped back and reached into his hair. He stopped, eyes widening, as he recognized just who it was standing before him.

"Inari-sama," gasped Kurama at the golden fox god.

Inari frowned down at them. "What have you been doing? Did you know a black fire dragon is now running loose in the Reikai."

"We know, we saw Korin release Suoh," said Yusuke.

"Su-Suoh...." said Inari looking completely shocked. "No, Suoh was sealed by Enma forever. The ryu loose in the Reikai is Kaoru Ryu."

"What!" shouted Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"That means that there is now two black dragons out there!" shouted Kuwabara.

"Are you saying that the black ryu Suoh is free?!" shouted Inari stepping closer to them. There was a longing look in Inari’s eyes, almost desperate. "Don’t you dare lie to me mortal, or you will know what it means to face a god’s wrath."

"Look we’re telling you what we was. It was Suoh ryu all right, that is what Korin called him. He was sealed in an ice temple at the center of the pole, we just came back from there after Korin nearly barbecued us," said Yusuke.

"I don’t believe it... after all these years," said Inari. A beautiful smiled graced the god’s lips and he was breath taking to behold. "Looks like I’m going to have a little family reunion. Where did Suoh go? Suoh must have flow off to see Kaoru. Of coarse, he’ll be looking for me. I must got meet Suoh and Kaoru-chan," said Inari turning to leave.

"Wait!" shouted Yusuke.

"Inari-sama," said Kurama stepping forward. "Suoh wasn’t set free by us. A demon criminal freed him, Korin. He has complete control over Suoh."

The fox god breathed in sharply. "Did he collar Suoh?"

"Collar?" said Kurama. That was what the silver fox god had tried to do Suoh in his visions. Kurama breathed in sharply as Inari had done.

The fox god swore in a language they did not know. "You three, come with me," he snapped at them.

"Um... sure," said Yusuke. The fox god stuck his sword into the ground and the land about them began to change till they were standing at the river of sticks.

"Wow, that was fast," said Kuwabara looking around. "Oh my-"

Everyone turned to look at the Gates of Judgement. The place looked like it had been under attack, it was punched full of holes, black fire burned on some of the roofs. Off in the distance a dragon’s scream filled the air.

"Unmistakable his is the work of Kaoru Ryu. Only Kaoru has this kind of destructive powers, pure dragon’s fire," he smiled almost proudly and turned to them. "Where is the boy? The Koorime?"

"Hiei?" asked Yusuke.

"Yes, the one with the tattoo on his arm," said Inari. "We have to tell him to recall Kaoru before he burns down the Reikai."

Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Kurama bowed their head.

"What?! He’s not dead is he! If he were then the Kaoru’s spirit would return to sleep till another mastered him! Answer me! Where is the Koorime boy?!"

"He’s inside," said Kurama. "I’ll show you."

Inari took in the sorrow written on Kurama’s face, for a moment the silver youko reminded him of- Inari shook the though out of his head. No, he didn’t want to think of him, not when he was so close to seeing Suoh and Koaru again. He nodded his head at Kurama and followed the fox past the Gates of Judgement.

"Yusuke!" shouted a girl with blue hair in a pink Kimono on an oar. She pulled up short and stared with open mouth at the golden fox god. "I-Inari-sama. It’s an honor. Do you wish to see Koenma-sama? I can go get him for you." Botan moved to leave.

"No Botan. We need to see Hiei," said Yusuke.

"Hiei!" said the girl turning back to them. "You should have seen what happened. Here I am checking on him, not doing anything to him- well I did mention what a shame it was that he and Kurama are gay but- oops!" she said clamping a hand over her mouth.

Everyone turned to look at the red head, whose face matched his hair.

"You... and HIEI!" shouted Kuwabara. "You’re dating the chibi!"

There was a long pause with everyone staring at the red head fox with open mouths.

"Later guys," said Yusuke shaking his head. "Botan what happened here?" asked Yusuke.

The ferry girl twiddled her thumbs. "Well, the wards around Hiei’s arms just started to smoke and then they burst into flames, the Kokuryuha appeared and broke through the roof. It busted up the place pretty good before leaving to circle the river of sticks."

Kuwabara grinned. "It’s Hiei’s Kokuryuha attack, not another dragon like Suoh. Although, I don’t know how in the three worlds we’re going to get it back on the shrimp’s arm."

"You are mistaken, this Kokuryuha, you speech of, is in fact a real ryu, Kaoru," said Inari. "I recognized his presents when his wielder came to my temple with you."

"But, this dragon is made completely of fire," said Kuwabara pointing up at the sky. "The other one was flesh and bone."

"What you see when the summoner release this Kokuryuha attack is Kaoru Ryu’s spirit form. I do not have time to explain the whole story to you, but Kaoru isn’t a normal ryu. His soul can leave his body if summoned by a powerful wielder of black fire. Unlike other creatures Kaoru is more powerful without his body. This version of Kaoru is pure dragon’s fire and limited by the amount of youki the summoner has." Inari grinned, "You should have seen it when he turned into dragon’s fire the first time, this attack pales in comparison."

"You speech as if you’ve seen it yourself," said Kuwabara.

"I have," said Inari. He pulled the horn out from his armor and looked at it fondly. "You see, I am the one that sealed Kaoru Ryu and made his spirit free to bond with other creatures of fire."

Those gather around looked at Inari with open mouths. Kuwabara backed away from him, trying to imagine a fire dragon even bigger then Hiei’s Kokuryuha being defeated by the being in front of him. He may be a god, but that was still hard to see.

"Well go calm it down then," said Yusuke to Inari. "If you can defeat and seal the real ryu, then you should be able to get it back on Hiei’s arm."

Inari shook his head. "I do not wield black fire. I know of only a few that could master the fire of Kaoru’s soul, your friend is one, Suoh Ryu is another."

"Ahhh, you’re not saying that Korin’s going to have power over this Kaoru Ryu too?!" shouted Kuwabara, doom written all over his face.

Inari shook his head. "No, I won’t let that happen. I am going to recall Kaoru, but I need the body of this Hiei to do it."

"What are you going to do?" asked Kurama. Alarms went off in his head, just what is he going to do to Hiei’s body?! He sweat dropped as a picture of his god with a lecherous grin on his face flashed in his head- he is the youko’s patron god after all.

Inari smiled. "I’m going to free Suoh, but first I must free another ryu; fight fire with fire. Where is the Koorime?"

"This way," said Botan flying into the palace. She led them to the room they’d left Hiei in. The Koorime boy was curled up on his side as Kurama had left him, the roof over his head was completely destroyed.

Inari walked over to the bed and scooped up Hiei. He smiled down almost sadly at the Koorime. "I can see why you were able to master Kaoru, you look just like Suoh."

"That’s because he is Suoh," said Koenma appearing in the doorway.

"What?!" demanded Inari glaring at the chibi god with fiery golden eyes.

"Hiei is the reincarnation of Suoh Ryu. Korin stole his soul a few days ago to try awakening a dragon called Suoh." Koenma turned to Yusuke. "What happened Yusuke? Did you recover the three treasures? What about Hiei’s soul, we could really use it right now. I personally don’t want his Kokuryuha burning up any more of the Reikai. Look what it did to the palace!" he said pointing at he giant hole in the roof. "My dad’s going to kill me!" said the chibi god pulling on his large hat.

Kurama dug in his pocket and pulled out the mirror tossing it to Koenma.

"You only go one?!" shouted the godling. "What about Hiei’s soul?"

"Suoh Ryu has awakened," said Kurama. "Korin is in complete control of him."

"Ahhhhhh!" shouted the chibi god. "This only gets worse by the minute."

"I haven’t got time for this. I’m going to go unseal Kaoru," said Inari pulling out his sword.

"I’m going to!" said Kurama stepping in front of his god.

Inari narrowed his eyes at him. "I will not revel to you the location of a dragon’s horde Youko Kurama. Stay here, I won’t be gone long."

"No!" said Kurama. "I don’t care about the treasure. You’ve got my lover in your arms and I’m going with him!"

"Kurama’s lovers with Hiei!" shouted Koenma. The godling looked like he was going to blow a gasket. "Well that would explain why he’s never had a girlfriend," said the chibi god scratching his chin.

Everyone glanced at him.

"Inari, please," said Kurama. "You can blind-fold me if you like, but I already failed him twice, please."

Inari’s grip tightened on the Hiei and his eyes widened. "Is it possible," he breathed staring at Kurama. "Could you be...." Inari looked away. "Very well. You many come."

"Hey, what about us!" demanded Yusuke.

Inari sighed. "I shall take you all, but if you dare to rob Kaoru’s den or tell another of its location I will personally kill you."

Kuwabara gulped.

"I understand," said Kurama. He moved to stand beside Inari. Yusuke and Kuwabara also move to do so as the fox god drew his sword and planted it in the floor. The landscape changed and they appeared in a small section of trees.

"What the-" said Kuwabara. He peered out to see a hotel with a swimming pool not far away. In the distance skyscrapers could be seen. "We’re in the Ningenkai!"

"Mt. Hiei," snickered Inari. "Funny how things work don’t they. The summoner of Kaoru named after the very mountain he is sealed under." Inari laughed as he began walking towards the mountain. "Must be fate."

"Wah!" shouted a voice. They all turned to see Botan floating on her oar beside them. "What am I doing here?"

"Ah, silly ferry girl," growled Inari. "You were standing too close when I created the portal.

"But, I wasn’t even touching the ground," protested the blue haired Spirit of Death pointing down at her dangling feet.

"It doesn’t work that way," snapped Inari. "If you tell Koenma there’s a living dragon in the Ningenkai, I will torture you till you wish you were dead."

Botan gulped and nodded. Inari turned and began walking towards the mountain.

"What was that about?" asked Kuwabara as they started after Inari.

"Dragon’s use to live in all four worlds. After the Meikai war, they were confined to only the Makai," said Botan.

"You mean they were successfully killed off everywhere, but the Makai," growled Inari, not even turning to look at them.

Botan gulped and hide behind Yusuke. "I don’t know, I was told they existed only in the Makai now of days."

"I still remember what the Reikai did all those years ago, ferry girl!" snarled Inari turning on them with a look of pure hate in his eyes. "I will never forget!"

Botan whimpered and hide her head behind Yusuke’s back.

Inari turned back to walking towards Mt. Hiei.

"Botan," questioned Yusuke. "What did the Reikai do after the Meikai war?"

"I don’t know, Yusuke," said Botan shaking her head. "It was before I was a ferry girl, before Koenma-sama was even born."

After a good walk they arrived at the base of Mt. Hiei and looked up.

"Um... we’re not going to have to climb that are we?" asked Kuwabara. "Man, how could the shrimp be named after something so… tall?"

"No, there are two entrances: one above that a dragon can fly out of and one on the ground to walk through, a maze. I hope I can remember which way is the correct path," said the god.

"Great a god with a sense of humor," said Kuwabara.

"Actually I’m serious. Kaoru and I use to play hide-n-seek when I was a kit. His was his favorite place to hide."

"You played hid-n-seek with a black dragon when you were a kid?!" shouted Kuwabara.

Inari smiled fondly. "He was a cub too back then, he was still a cub when I sealed him." Inari leaned forward and stuck three fingers into holes in the face of the rock in front of them. The section around his hand pushed in and Inari turned it clock wise. A cave entrance opened up to their right. "Follow me," said Inari heading to the cave.

Kurama licked his lips in excitement they were going to see a dragon’s den and horde! It was every thief’s dream to find a dragon’s den full of treasure. Of course, the lucky few that did find a den often found a dragon still in it. Kurama told himself to calm down and not to touch anything. The last thing he wanted to do was make this Kaoru Ryu angry.

Kurama gasped and fell back against the cave wall. "Not again," he groaned as the world around him began to fade.

* * * * * * * * * *
Inari picked himself off the ground from the place Suoh had pinned him, a big smile across his lips. He was happy despite that fact that he had lost, once again, to the ryu. Inari found it hard to be anything but happy around Suoh, especially when they were alone. He stood up and gave the ryu a foxy wink that no one but Suoh noticed. The two parted ways and went to their separate sides.

"You look terribly happy for one that just got his ass kicked," said Volcanus.

Inari chuckled to himself. What Volcanus didn’t know was that he was going to pay the little ryu’s ass back ten times and more when he went hunting for him again. Inari crossed his arms and only half watched as another challenge was issued.

How many years had it been? How many since he’d truly stopped hunting Suoh and started having him? A 100? 200? 500? 1,000? He’d lost track of the amount of years he’d had the ryu as a mistress. Time just seemed to flow together it was dull when he was away from Suoh and brilliant when he was around the ryu.

Inari couldn’t wait for the day to come when he’d finally defeat Suoh and made him his mount. What an unstoppable pair they would be! The Meikai won’t stand a chance once he’d collared Suoh. He grinned widely to himself looking forward to the day he’d be able to call the ryu to him whenever he pleased to do whatever he wanted.

Inari smiled across the way at the black ryu. He didn’t even notice as the green ryu, who had been challenged, lost its match and let out a sorrowful wail of defeat.

* * * * * * * * * *
Inari staked silently through Dragon Springs and finally spotted Suoh Ryu. He frowned slightly his ryu was with another black ryu. He moved in closer to hear what they were saying.

Rouin embraced Suoh from behind and nipped on the ryu’s ear. "Suoh," breathed Rouin against the ryu’s ear, tickling Suoh with his breath. "It’s been a thousand years since you became my mate." His hand moved up and titled Suoh neck to the side to kiss it. "When are you going to stop playing with me?"

"Rouin?" breathed Suoh softly.

The taller ryu pushed Suoh down on his back and climbed on top of him.

Inari’s mouth dropped as he watched Rouin Ryu lean down to kiss Suoh fully on the mouth. The fox god didn’t know what to do, he was forbidden to disturb the ryus, but he couldn’t just allow that larger black ryu to take his Suoh?! Could he? Inari’s hands clenched into fists at his side. He couldn’t watch this any more. Inari turned leaving Dragon Springs.

Suoh broke the kiss and looked away.

"Suoh, please just try," said Rouin stroking his cheek.

"Rouin, I can’t. I’ve fallen in love with someone else," said Suoh. He turned and looked right into Ruoin’s not so shocked brown eyes.

"I thought so," sighed Rouin rolling off Suoh.

Suoh leaned over him and kissed him softly on the lips. "Go to Chi, please. Stop torturing yourself."

Rouin wrapped his arms around Suoh in a tight hug. "But-"

"Shh, no buts. Just go," Suoh said softly.

Rouin sat up and smiled at the smaller ryu. "Thank you."

Suoh nodded. "Now you be nice to her, be gentle you brute."

Rouin laughed. "You tell her that." Still laughing the large black got to his feet. He looked back once more at Suoh before turning and running off.

Suoh smiled and watched him go.

"Be happy with the one you love, Rouin," he said the smile slipping from his face. "Be happy she loves you back."

* * * * * * * * * *
"Suoh Ryu! I promise you your freedom his night!"

Suoh had just enough time to turn his head before he was buried underneath a wild fox that wildly kissed him.

"I-Inari!" cried Suoh as the fox yanked on his belt. Inari kissed Suoh on the lips, stopping him from speaking. The other hand went to pull down to his pants. He hadn’t even bothered to put on armor any more, it just got in the way.

"W-wait!" gasped Suoh as his legs were pulled apart and Inari fitted his hips between them. "I need to talk to *gasp* you."

Inari wrapped one arm around Suoh’s back and pulled him closer to him, head moving down to bite the ryu on his right nipple. His other free hand glided down the ryu’s back and down his tail to the tip. The hand moved under to the soft white underside of the ryu’s tail and slowly moved up.

"Inari, wait, please!" moaned the ryu. "I have something important to say!" The ryu tossed his head as Inari’s hand ran up his tail caressed his rear.

"I don’t think so," said Inari, he moved his head over and bit down on Suoh’s other nipple wrenching a cry from the ryu. He pulled back and licked the nub. "We can talk later."

The ryu’s answer was a low groan as the fox’s fingers entered him.

Inari smiled down at the ryu. It never ceased to amaze him how much control he could have over Suoh after touching him in just the right places.

Inari pushed the ryu back against a tree while kissing him passionately. He pulled away from the kiss and grabbed the ryu’s long slender legs pulling them around his hips. "You’re my ryu," he whispered into Suoh’s ear removing his hand and bringing himself into position.

"Inari... Wait-" the ryu arched against the tree as Inari slowly pushed into him.

"Mine," whispered Inari moving in to kiss the ryu again. His hips moved slowly against the ryu's. "No one else’s, you’re mine."

"Inari," gasped Suoh hooking his ankles together behind Inari’s back and pull himself closer to the silver fox god.

Inari slowly increased his pace. His hands moved around the ryu’s hips to grab his ass and squeeze rhythmically as he thrust into the ryu. How he wanted- desired him, he moved harder against the dragon a low purr imitating from his throat. He lifted Suoh who clung tight to him and stood up pressing the ryu against the tree trunk.

Suoh fisted his hands into Inari’s hair and moaning, his butt and tail bumping again the tree trunk with Inari’s every move.

Inari’s silver eye drank up the sight of the ryu as Suoh mouthed his name, eyes only partly open, face flushed. The ryu bit his lip and pressed the side of his face to the tree bark. Inari lost control and came inside the ryu with a short cry of pleasure thrusting his hips tightly against the ryu to draw out the feeling as long as possible. Once he was done he leaned against his partner pressing him flat against the tree as he panted.

Inari tilted his head up to kiss Suoh, but the ryu turned his head to the side.

"What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?" asked Inari.

"No," said the ryu unwinding his legs and pulled way from Inari, giving the god his back. He wrapped his arms around himself and shivered. This worried Inari, since when was a fire ryu ever cold?!

"We can’t keep doing this," said Suoh.

"What, Suoh?" asked Inari walking up behind the ryu and running his hands up the ryu’s bare arms. He wanted the ryu again, but tried to calm himself. He’d rushed the first round; they hadn’t even gotten all their clothes off. After seeing Suoh with that other black ryu he couldn’t help it, he wanted to take the ryu, rub his scent all over him, mark him some how as his and his alone.

"This, we can’t keep doing this. You hunt me, than offer me my freedom in exchange for a night of passion. We can’t keep doing this. I have responsibilities Inari. I have to find a real mate, one that I can reproduce with, someone that wants me for more then just meaningless sex."

Inari’s hands dropped from the ryu’s shoulders and made fists at his sides. "Suoh you are my ryu."

"No I’m not!" said Suoh turned to face him. "I don’t belong to you Inari."

"You will some day," smiled the fox god moving closer to embrace Suoh.

"No! That’s not what I want!" said the ryu slapping his hands away. "You don’t understand! You don’t understand- this feeling- I- Inari you- just what am I to you!" shouted the ryu.

"Suoh? You’re my ryu," said Inari in confusion.

The black bowed his head. "Is that all I am to you? Something to be owned?" Suoh snapped his head up. "Is that all you want from me Inari?!" The ryu turned around. "You don’t even understand what it is I want back from you, what I want you to want from me," he said quietly. "I can’t do this any more. The fact that you don’t feel the same is killing me inside. It needs to stop before I become a prisoner to you in more ways then any collar could ever make me."

"Suoh, I don’t understand," said Inari. What was his ryu trying to say?

"Next time I go to Dragon Springs I will look for a mate there. I will not let you bed me in exchange for my freedom any more."

Inari found it hard to breathe, his heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He didn’t understand why those words had such a powerful effect on him. Gods, his chest hurt so much suddenly. Inari ground his teeth, his fists tightening at his sides. "You are my ryu, Suoh," he growled through his teeth.

Suoh turned to look at Inari, red eyes blinked in confusion at the rage he heard in the god’s voice. "Inari?" asked the ryu taking a step towards him.

"You are MY ryu!" shouted the god. He raised up a hand and struck the ryu across the face.

Unprepared for the attack Suoh was hit hard. He fell on his back, hand wandering up to the spot Inari had hit him, eyes wide. Suoh left out a frightened gasp and tried to scramble up and run away, but Inari was faster and pinned the ryu down to the ground.

"Do you understand! You are nothing! Just a pathetic ryu! A plaything! A toy! I’m a god! You will do what I say! I do own you, you whore!" he shouted in the ryu’s face.

"Let go!" screamed the ryu shoving Inari off him. He turned around and tried to crawl away from the angry god. Inari snarl and grabbed the ryu by the ankle dragging him back against him.

"Leaving again with out saying good bye, toy!" snarled Inari in Suoh’s ear. He grabbed Suoh by the neck and pushed his face to the ground, other hand gripping the ryu’s hip.

"Inari stop!" screamed the ryu struggling under him. Suoh realizes, to his horror, that Inari had grown more powerful then him. The fox god had long ago stopped really fighting him, he hadn’t realized just how much power Inari now had. It seemed his anger make him even stronger. The god yanked Suoh’s tail up and ground his hips against the ryu’s rear.

"Stop!"

"You know you like it Suoh, you always have," said Inari his voice icy. "You should be thankful I even touch something like you. You want to get rid of me and screw your new lover! Well I’ll show you just how it’s suppose to be done!" Inari reached down and tore off Suoh’s robes his length quested up the ryu’s thighs to press between his legs.

The ryu scream and thrashed, trying to break free. "Stop Inari. You have more honor then the this, you can’t do this, you promised!"

"Promised? I promised you your freedom, Suoh. I never promised not to hurt you," the hand on the ryu’s hip tightened painfully. Inari wanted to make the ryu hurt the feeling in his chest lessened when he saw that lowly ryu hiss in agony. He felt better knowing Suoh was in pain too.

The ryu’s long wings snapped back to slap Inari as the ryu renew his efforts to get away. Inari cursed as one wing whacked him on the side on the face. "You little bitch!" shouted Inari grinding Suoh’s cheek against the ground. One leg moved up from his kneeling position to stomp down on the ryu’s right wing. There was a snapping sound, and Suoh let out a pain filled howl. "Shut up!" shouted Inari down at the whimpering ryu, keeping his foot firmly press down on the ryu’s wing.

"I’m going to take you like the bitch you are," Inari snarled down at Suoh. He moved up against the ryu and roughly entered him.

Suoh buried his face against the ground as Inari bucked against him. "Inari stop... you’re hurting me," said Suoh in a shaky voice.

"I told you to shut up!" growled Inari trusting harder into the ryu. "One more word out of you and I’ll kill you!"

The ryu clamped a hand over his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut.

Inari growled as he moved against the ryu. He wasn’t even trying to please himself, this was punishment, Suoh’s punishment. He moved harder and faster against the ryu. Suoh remained mute under him, hand clamped tightly over his mouth, breathing ragged breaths through his nose.

Inari snarled and slammed against the ryu. He released the ryu’s neck and raked his claws down Suoh’s back, breaking through the tough black scales and drawing blood. Soon the ryu’s back looked like a bloody game of tic-tac-toe, the Xs being the winners.

Inari’s eyes wonder to the ryu’s neck. He reclined over the smaller body and bit down. The ryu made a muffled sound against his hand as Inari’s canines easily sank into the soft white of his throat. Inari growled around Suoh’s throat and tore his teeth up as he thrust a few more times into the ryu before coming. He released Suoh to fall bone-less against the ground. After a few seconds the ryu curled up into a ball, both hands clamped over his mouth.

Inari panted raggedly and looked down at the mess that was Suoh. The ryu was bleeding from numerous cuts all over his body. He could see a bruise forming on Suoh’s cheek where he’d hit him, other bruises showed on the Suoh’s white throat and belly, no doubt there where more that couldn’t be seen on the ryu’s black scales. Blood coated the ryu’s once white inner thighs. Inari’s eyes spotted the ryu’s right wing, the one that he had pinned down it was broken and lay flat out from his curled form.

Without a word Inari got up and tried to clean the ryu’s blood off of him. He pulled on his pants and left the ryu still curled in that fetal position.

As he walked away a cold feeling started to seep into him and only grew the farther he got away. His legs felt shaky, it was hard to breath, that feeling in his chest was back ten fold, but this time he was struck with a strong feeling of dread. Inari started walking faster way, then he ran, ran like crazy away from the ryu. His mind whispering things to him.

Coward, why do you run? That ryu can no longer defend its self, what do you have to fear? It deserved what it got? Why do you care so much about such a pathetic creature?

"Why does my chest hurt so much?"

Inari stopped running and leaned against a tree, panting for air. He froze as a blood-curling scream filled the night. The scream turned into the most mournful howl Inari had ever heard. His heart beat wildly in his chest.

With his wing broken the ryu was easy prey, what if something was attacking Suoh; he was defenseless. Inari turned and started running back in the direction he came. How would Suoh get back to his den? What if he had permanently crippled him, the ryu would never fly again. Millions of questions ran through the fox god’s head as he ran towards the mournful cries that echoed endlessly throughout the valley.

Suddenly the cries stopped and Inari’s heart all but did with them. He ran faster and turned into his ten tailed silver kitsune form running with all speed back towards the ryu. One thing repeated over and over in his head: if Suoh died he’d never forgive himself.

The fox god slowed as he come closer to the place he had left Suoh, he could smell sex, fear, pain, and blood all over the area. His ears perched up as he heard a deep male voice frantically speaking. Inari got down on his belly and crawled through the bushes to peek out at the clearing he’d left Suoh in. Suoh was still there, but his taller black ryu companion was now holding him: Rouin Ryu.

"Suoh! What happened?! Who did this to you?!" said the taller ryu holding the smaller ryu gently.

The ryu was shaking in Rouin’s arms and Inari realized Suoh was crying. He’d never seen a ryu cry before; he didn’t even know they could.

"Oh Golden Ryu, I’m sorry Suoh. If I hadn’t taken Chi as my mate I would have been here. I’m so sorry," whispered the ryu tightening his hold on Suoh.

Suoh shook his head against Rouin’s chest. "No... not your fault," he sobbed softly. "I wanted you to be.... happy... don’t ever feel sorry for that."

"It was Inari wasn’t it Suoh? It was he wasn’t it?!"

The smaller ryu’s answer was a soft sob.

"I don’t care if he is a god," growled Rouin. "I’m going to rip him to pieces."

"No," said Suoh grabbing him by the shoulders. "No, please don’t Rouin."

"What?! Why? Why, Suoh?!"

"Because I... love him," said the ryu before going slack in Rouin’s grip.

"Suoh!" screamed the ryu. He stood up cradling the smaller ryu against his chest. "Hold on. I’ll get you some place safe," said the black before running and jumping into the air.

Inari climbed out from under the bushes as they disappeared out of sight, and returned to his humanoid form. He sank to his knees staring off into the direction they had left. "...Love...? Suoh loves… me?" whispered the fox god. "No... no... he can’t... no... Noooo!" screamed the fox god.

TBC